2020 was really rough for athletes and sports fans. 2021 also got off to a really rough start, but things are starting to look a little better, with Covid 19 vaccines making significant headway in curving the international pandemic.
The world of competitive climbing is starting to open up again, and just in time for the Summer Olympics!
The agencies that run climbing competitions have had to get very creative in resuming competitions with social distancing measures still in place.
It’s no secret that we get really amped on climbing competitions and the great news is that some of the biggest events are starting to return after a year with virtually nothing to follow on a large scale
We want to share this passion with you, so we are going to talk about some of the coolest and most significant climbing competitions to watch out for. Hopefully, you can get half as stoked as we are!
1. The 2020 Summer Olympics In Tokyo, Japan (Taking Place Summer Of 2021)
Needless to say, the Olympics are epic. This year marks the first time ever that sport climbing will be included in the Olympic Games.
The 2020 Olympic Games were rescheduled due to the pandemic and will be taking place from July 23-August 8, 2021 in Tokyo.
This year’s Olympic Climbing competition will be world-changing for sports climbing and will also be unique in many ways. With the introduction of the sport to the International Games, there are some things that have taken some ironing out.
In 2021, medals will be given out in separate Men’s and Women’s competitions for combined matches that mix Lead Climbing, Speed Climbing, and Bouldering. This is the first and last time the competitions will be operated this way.
Due to widespread controversy, starting in 2024 there will be three separate competitions per sex. Medals will be given out separately for each of the three major disciplines (Leading, Speeding, and Bouldering).
With or without controversy, we are really excited that Sports Climbing will enter the Olympic World this Summer.
2. The International Federation Of Sports Climbing’s World Cup
After the World Cup Of Climbing was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the 2021 competition has an extraordinary amount of anticipation built around it.
Here in the United States, two back-to-back IFSC World Cup Of Climbing contests will take place in Salt Lake City in May. Starting on May 21 SLC will hold a Bouldering contest. The following week they will host a Bouldering And Speed competition.
The IFSC Climbing World Cup will finally conclude in Indonesia the weekend of Halloween 2021 with 13 cities worldwide being sites for The Cup as a whole.
3. USA Climbing’s National Cup Series
For Sports Climbing fans in the U.S., some of the finals the most exciting domestic competition just concluded at the end of March in Memphis, TN.
In preparation for the future Olympic Games, 2021 was the first year where USA Climbing included lead and speed competitions.
Olympic Team climbers, Nathaniel Coleman, Colin Duffy, Brooke Rabotov, and Kyra Condie all competed in the Bouldering Finals. Coleman and won the Gold Medal in Men’s Bouldering, with Natalia Grossman taking home the Gold in Women’s Bouldering.
In addition to preparing Olympic athletes, the National Cup has thrilling to watch as its own event.
Five more competitions have been scheduled to occur across the United States between now and October.
4. ISA’s International Tree Climbing Championship
Presented by the International Society Of Arboriculture, is perhaps the most significant competition for tree climbing.
The International Tree Climbing Championship was designed to promote professional arboriculture. These are truly high adrenaline competitions, with a number of different disciplines being presented. Aerial Rescue, Work Climbing, Throwlines, Work Climbs, Belaying, and Secured Footlocks are all parts of the competition.
Unfortunately, this year’s Championship has been rescheduled to August of 2022 due to concerns surrounding Covid-19, but we are trying our best to be patient for this epic event.
5. UIAA World Cup Of Ice Climbing
The UIAA’s 2020-2021 Ice Climbing season concluded in March with a World Cup event in Kirov, Russia. The event included Lead and Speed competitions with Daria Glotova winning the women’s competition and Nikolai Kuzovlev winning in Men’s.
The fact that a season of Ice Climbing occurred on any level this year is pretty extraordinary, albeit with games and participating countries being scaled significantly.
Honorable Mention: The Tree Stuff Jambo
We were very disappointed to see Tree Stuff’s Jambo canceled in 2020. We give Tree Stuff major respect for doing the right thing, and look forward to when they can finally announce the next competition.
Starting back in 2014, we look forward to seeing the results of Jambo’s competitions every year. In addition to the games, the Jambo is also a festival where many of the best minds in the arborist world meet.
The Future Of Competitive Climbing
The future of competitive climbing is a bit uncertain, but we know that these sports will continue to survive. The competitions listed have all helped establish respect for climbing sports worldwide, as well as helping them to stay alive in trying times.
We are really looking forward to seeing the future of climbing sports in the coming years!
